ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY
will commence on 1 October 2018 and will fund
Employment Facilitators to work with Regional
Development Australia (RDA) Committees. Grants
of up to $1.0 million will be available to each region
to support employment-related projects that invest
in local communities and job seekers.
SAFER COMMUNITIES FUND — EXTENSION
The Government will provide $30.0 million over
two years to extend the Safer Communities Fund
(SCF). The SCF provides grant funding to local
government and community organisations to fund
crime prevention initiatives, including closed-circuit
television, lights and bollards.
STRONGER COMMUNITIES PROGRAMME —
ROUND FOUR
The Government will provide $25.9 million over
two years from 2018-19 for round four of the
Stronger Communities Programme. The Stronger
Communities Programme provides funding of
between $2,500 and $20,000 for small capital
projects that deliver social benefits for local
communities across Australia.
REGIONAL JOBS AND INVESTMENT PACKAGE
— FUNDING FOR TASMANIA
The Government will provide an additional $2.3
million in 2018-19 to the Regional Jobs and
Investment Package for Regional Tasmania. The
cost of the measure will be met by redirecting funding
from the Tasmanian Jobs and Investment Fund.
funding rounds for the Remote Airstrip Upgrade
component of the Regional Aviation Access
Programme.
The funding will deliver better access and safety
upgrades for remote community airstrips. Remote
airstrip upgrades ensure continued access to
essential, potentially lifesaving, health care as
well as fresh food, mail services and access to
employment and education opportunities.
DEFENCE EXPORT STRATEGY
The Government will provide $80.0 million over
four years from 2018-19 ($20.0 million ongoing) to
support the Australian defence industry, including:
•
an additional $4.1 million per year on an
ongoing basis to expand the Centre for Defence
Industry Capability’s grant programs and help
build the capability of the Australian defence
industry’s small-to-medium enterprises to
compete internationally;
DEFENCE INDUSTRIAL CAPABILITY PLAN
— ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOVEREIGN
INDUSTRIAL CAPABILITY GRANT PROGRAM
The Government will provide $68.0 million over
four years from 2018-19 ($17.0 million ongoing)
for a dedicated annual grant program to support
the development, maintenance and enhancement
of the capability of the Australian defence industry.
Funding will be provided to eligible small-to-medium
enterprises that contribute to one or more of the
Sovereign Industrial Capability Priorities.
AUSTRALIAN HERITAGE GRANTS PROGRAM
— ESTABLISHMENT
The Government will provide $23.1 million over four
years from 2018-19, and
$5.7 million annually from 2022-23, to establish
a flagship Australian Heritage Grants Program
(AHGP). The AHGP will provide grant funding
to protect and promote places in Australia with
Commonwealth, National or World Heritage values.
REMOTE AIRSTRIP UPGRADE PROGRAMME
— EXTENSION
The Government will provide $28.3 million over
four years from 2018-19 to provide a further three
VOL.11 NO.1 2018 | 31